Attorneys representing victims of adeadly Metrolink train crash in Chatsworth have scheduled a newsconference for later today to announce what they claim are “explosive”new details regarding the catastrophe.
The Sept. 12 collision between the commuter train and a Union Pacific freight train killed 25 people and injured 135 others.Federal safety investigators have said that Metrolink locomotiveengineer Robert M. Sanchez sent and received dozens of text messagesfrom his cellphone while on duty the day of the crash -– a violation ofthe commuter line’s policy. The last message was sent just 22 secondsbefore impact, according to preliminary findings by the NationalTransportation Safety Board.
In announcing their news conference, the attorneys did not disclosedetails about their new information. But in a lawsuit filed two weeksago, they alleged that Metrolink and its contractor that operates thetrains had knowledge of engineers text-messaging while at work.
They“allowed their trains to be operated by locomotive engineers who wereknown to be using cellphones on duty (and sending and receiving textmessages), in violation of existing railroad operation rules,”according to the complaint filed in Los Angeles Superior Court.
“They also knew that ... employees had violated railroad rulesprohibiting use of cellphones while operating trains.” The lawsuitprovided no specifics about the alleged cellphone use by engineers orwhether there was evidence that Metrolink or its contractor knew thatSanchez had sent text messages.
Federal investigators said Sanchez, who was killed in the collision,was supposed to stop at a red signal just ahead of a switch mechanismintended to guide the Union Pacific train to a side rail. Instead,Sanchez barreled over the switch at 42 mph, bending it badly, beforeslamming into the southbound freight carrier on a sharp curve about aquarter of a mile past the light, according to federal investigators.
A multi-agency probe, which is being led by the NTSB, will takemonths to determine a probable cause. We’ll be at the news conferenceand keep you updated.
Lawyer News RSS
